student learning – Assessment by Design

Time and Space

Posted on December 2, 2015 by mmcmull5 — No Comments ↓

Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased. —John Steinbeck I enjoy discovering quotes. In fact, I have saved a few particularly poignant ones that I would be happy to share if you want to drop by my office. Recently, I came across this one by John Steinbeck. I’m a fan of several of Steinbeck’s books, but, interestingly, I didn’t find this in a book. It appeared in one of those little “inspirational” calendars that are very popular gifts at this time of year and for which it seems wholly appropriate. As I was musing on the quote, it came to me that assessment is very much like a trip that continues “long after movement…have ceased.” When assessing students, the movement generated in the collecting of data on student learning has an impact on the curriculum long after the actual data collection has stopped. With the act of analyzing the data, this movement amplifies as Continue reading Time and Space→

Serving Two Masters

Posted on May 12, 2015 by mmcmull5 — No Comments ↓

There is a well-known Bible verse in the Book of Matthew that says, “No one can serve two masters.” I was thinking about that adage recently when discussing assessment with some colleagues. We were discussing a department’s assessment plan for the coming academic year and I was repeatedly asked if the accrediting body “would be okay with it.” Assessment has the unfortunate role of trying to serve two masters. The first and primary role of assessment is to measure student learning in the classroom/program/college, and to use this information to inform curricular changes with the goal of increasing student learning. The second master that has begun creeping into my conversations with faculty is the issue of accountability. Will this satisfy our accrediting body? Will the state board think this is okay? Does this meet the requirements? It is hard to meet the needs of two masters that are so fundamentally different in expectations and requirements. So how does academia address Continue reading Serving Two Masters→